The next petition is PE1715 on closed containment for salmon farms in Scotland. The petition was lodged by Mark Carter, on behalf of Marine Concern, and seeks action to ensure that the salmon farming industry in Scotland uses only a closed containment method of farming.
The note that was prepared by the clerks and the Scottish Parliament information centre outlines a number of steps that have already been taken in the area, including the separate inquiries that have been undertaken by the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee and the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee. Those committees recommended that independent research on the benefits of closed containment farming methods be undertaken as a matter of urgency. In its response to the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee report, the Scottish Government stated that the industry was already undertaking research in the area.
Based on the information that is set out in our meeting paper, and further to yesterday afternoon’s debate on the issue, do members have any comments or suggestions for action?
As a veteran of the bill process for the Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Act 2013, I have certainly learned more about salmon farming and wild fisheries than I ever thought I would.
During yesterday’s debate in the chamber on the joint report from the REC Committee and ECCLR Committee, there was unfortunately little mention of closed containment, but it was highlighted that Norway is moving forward with it at pace. It is clear that closed containment would have a massive environmental benefit but, yesterday, there was no indication from the Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy that the Scottish Government is keen to move in that direction at pace—certainly not at the pace that the petitioner is looking for.
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It may well be that closed containment is the answer to the majority of the environmental problems that the industry faces. I would be keen to see it move forward but, given that we did not get a lot of clarity on it from the Government in yesterday’s debate, I am keen that we write to the Government to ask exactly where it is with regard to supporting closed containment in the industry. That would allow us to decide what next steps we could take with the petition.
I agree with that. I have been on the committee only for this session and, like my colleague, I now know more about salmon fishing than I thought I could possibly know. There is certainly an interest in closed containment. The argument against it is that it is cost prohibitive at the moment. However, I would be interested to see the Norwegian model.
Like others, I do not have a lot of expertise and experience in the area, but I am conscious that the Parliament has looked at it since the very early days. I recognise the economic significance of highly skilled jobs in remote communities. There is also the question of whether there are animal welfare issues with closed containment. It does not seem to me that salmon being in a box on land is natural or even akin to what they would normally experience. However, as I said, I do not have any experience in that area.
We can get clarification from the Scottish Government on whether it is looking at the issue. I thought that the debate and the committee’s report would have addressed the issues that have been highlighted, but we might want to look at the area a wee bit further.
Yes. It would be good to hear from the industry as well at this stage. We could write to the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation and possibly some of the main players, such as Mowi—which was Marine Harvest—or the Scottish Salmon Company, which may well be developing closed containment.
The problem is that the report that was conducted by SAMS Research Services Ltd and the report by the two committees were done about a year ago. Things are moving forward, and it would be interesting to see where things are now.
The salmon farming inquiry was quite extensive. Are you saying that you believe that technology has advanced so much that closed containment was not looked at at that point?
No—it was looked at, and it is referred to in the report. I am saying that it was not discussed in much detail in yesterday’s chamber debate. There are certainly developments in Norway with regard to closed containment. It would be good to find out exactly where the Norwegians are with it.
Angus MacDonald has suggested that we should write to the Scottish Government in particular, and perhaps to those in the industry that have an interest, on the specific issue of closed containment. Do members agree that we should do so?
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